title: Increased levels of serum IL-18 are associated with the long-term outcome of severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A long-lasting neuroinflammatory cascade may lead to the progression of brain damage, favoring neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the potential mechanisms underlying this sequence of events remain elusive. Here we aimed to evaluate the impact of interleukin (IL)-18, a proinflammatory cytokine elevated in post-acute head injury and associated with neurodegeneration, on the long-term outcome of patients with chronic TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum content of IL-18 was evaluated in 16 patients with severe TBI, during their rehabilitation phase, and in a matched group of 16 healthy controls. The disability of the enrolled patients was evaluated by means of the Glasgow Outcome Scale, Levels of Cognitive Functioning, and the Disability Rating Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The circulating levels of IL-18 were significantly increased in chronic TBI patients, as compared to healthy subjects, and correlated with the patients' cognitive impairment and disability severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18 may contribute to the long-term outcome and neurodegeneration in TBI patients. Even though further studies are needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of IL-18 on TBI progression and its associated drop in cognitive function, a possible role of this cytokine as a therapeutic target in TBI can be envisaged.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Behavioral Neurology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Vedova
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salani
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viganotti
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Ippolito
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossù
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18